Bachelor Programme
Journalism
Carleton's School of Journalism and Communication runs Canada's oldest journalism program, combining hands-on reporting and storytelling workshops in text, audio, video and digital media with courses outside journalism and a second major in another subject. Based in Ottawa's national media hub, students can also take a concentration in health sciences and gain experience through professional apprenticeships and summer internships with media organizations.
University
Carleton University
Country
Canada
Level
Bachelor
Field
Journalism
Duration
4 years (20.0 credits, Honours)
Language
English
Campus
Ottawa
Degree
Bachelor of Journalism (BJ) Honours
Intake
September
Application Deadline
September 2027 entry: Ontario high school students apply through OUAC by January 15, 2027; international students whose transcripts come from outside Canada and the US by April 1, 2027; other applicants with Canadian or US transcripts by the general deadline of June 1, 2027. Applying early is recommended because all programs have limited enrolment
Tuition Information
Carleton's 2026-27 fee tables list first-year fees for the Bachelor of Journalism (fall and winter terms, including compulsory ancillary fees and the U-Pass transit pass) of about CAD 7,980 for Ontario residents, CAD 9,709 for Canadian residents from other provinces and CAD 41,384 for international students. For international students Carleton has frozen tuition at about CAD 39,000 a year, plus about CAD 2,500 in miscellaneous fees, for 2026-27 through 2028-29. Ontario and other-Canadian fees for the BJ rise from second year (about CAD 8,586 and CAD 10,478). Domestic fees for 2027-28 are not yet published.
Admission Requirements
- Apply through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC); international applicants whose transcripts come from outside Canada and the US can also use Carleton's direct application in Carleton360
- Ontario: OSSD with at least six 4U/M courses, including 4U English. To keep a conditional offer: an overall average of at least 76% and English at 70% or higher
- High schools outside Ontario (Carleton's Group B chart): an overall average of at least 76% and English at 70% or higher
- IB Diploma: at least 26 points, with a final grade of at least 4 in HL or SL English
- US high school: Grade 12 with at least four academic units and at least 16 academic units across Grades 9 to 12, with a B- average as Carleton's general minimum (Honours and limited-enrolment programs can need more). SAT or ACT scores are encouraged but not required
- Applicants who would need English as a Second Language courses on admission are not eligible for this program, so English proficiency must be fully met
- The averages above are the minimums Carleton lists for keeping a conditional offer of admission for 2027-28. Carleton sets each program's cut-off every year and competitive programs can require considerably higher averages; meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Unless stated otherwise, every prerequisite needs at least 60% (or an IB grade of 4)
- English proficiency: met by three years of recent full-time study in English at a Canadian high school or in an English-speaking country, or by a test such as IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 86 (at least 22 in writing and speaking and 20 in reading and listening; 4.5 with no band below 4.0 for tests from January 21, 2026), Duolingo 120 (110 in writing, reading and speaking, 105 in listening), PTE Academic 55 (47 in each skill), CAEL 70 (60 in each band), Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 176 (169 in each component), or a grade of 4 in IB English A (HL or SL). Slightly lower scores can lead to an offer with English as a Second Language courses, but not for every program